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A Week In Business

BERLIN – Apple Discount Drugs, a locally owned Health Mart pharmacy, has announced that Apple pharmacists and Certified Diabetes Educators Geoff Twigg and John Motsko were honored with the Excellence in Innovation Award from the Maryland Pharmacists Association (MPhA).

The award aims to recognize forward-thinking pharmacists who have expanded their practices into new areas and shown results in improving patient care. This is the second time in recent years a pharmacist at Apple has been recognized for the innovation award. Apple President Jeff Sherr received the same award in 2004. This award is voted on by past presidents of the Maryland Pharmacists Association.

The award was based on Apple’s innovative Diabetes Center and Medication Therapy Management services. These services work both together and independently to help patients achieve better outcomes for their health conditions.

“It is quite an honor to be recognized among our peers for the work that we do every day,” said Twigg.

Motsko added, “We are committed to initiatives within the pharmacy and diabetes center that promote better health outcomes for our customers.”

Sherr said, “Both Geoff and John are vital to the Apple Drugs team. This award proves the value of the services and counseling they provide to our customers, while bringing additional credibility to the innovative programs they bring to the table.

Business Loan Announced

OCEAN CITY — MCE of Salisbury has announced that its first loan to assist small and minority businesses from its casino grant funding has been approved for Nurse Professionals Home Care & Staffing, LLC owned by Anita Logsdon Battista, RN of Ocean City.

The loan will allow the firm to implement a sizable contract that it landed recently and allow it to place additional allied health and nursing professionals in full-time and part-time jobs in Delaware and Maryland health facilities.

MCE also approved its first loan from the fund to a business in the Baltimore target area to a convenience store owner who is upgrading his facility and expanding his stock.

MCE was awarded $1 million from revenues generated by the state’s three casinos on April 17, when the Board of Public Works approved the recommendation from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). MCE is to use the funding to provide loans to small businesses, minority and women-owned businesses located in Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Baltimore City and Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties. Priority is given to businesses located within a 10-mile radius of the casinos.

Housing Market Update

BERLIN – The Coastal Association of Realtors has good news to report on the housing market. More people are avoiding foreclosure by taking advantage of programs that offer alternatives to losing one’s home. This also means available housing inventory is shrinking.

In a comparison report on residential properties between 2012 and year-to-date 2013, the total housing inventory on Delmarva is down by 7% which means Realtors are selling homes at a faster rate than they are becoming available.

“Low mortgage rates are helping the housing market recover and spurring more people to buy homes,” said CAR Executive Sheila Dodson. “Stable home values make it easier for borrowers to refinance their mortgages or sell their homes if they fall on financial hardships and are unable to make their payments, which increases the chance they will prevent foreclosure.”

Brandon Brittingham, CAR member and Realtor for Long & Foster, claims he doesn’t know a single person who has gone to foreclosure in the past four years.

“I can say I have helped over 1,000 people avoid having to foreclose on their homes. There are programs that offer loan modifications and short sale opportunities that offer full debt release to help families that find themselves in this situation. Banks are also being more proactive in helping families avoid losing their homes,” he said. “When a client comes to me in dire straits, thinking there is no hope for saving their home, the first thing I do is connect them with a non-profit housing council agency. These professionals sit down with them, review their financial situation and go over their options and guide them through the process.”

CAR member Kaytlyn Senkbeil, a representative from Mortage Network, added, “The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) gives homeowners who owe more than their home is worth an opportunity to refinance. Families who have lost credit in their homes from the credit crash can actually reduce their interest rate to the current rate and they won’t be penalized for having lower equity in their homes.”

Carpet Line Expands

OCEAN CITY — Homeworks Carpet One Floor & Home recently introduced a brand new addition to their popular Tigressá carpet line – Tigressá Cherish.

“This is a winning combination in flooring,” said Warren Hamstead, owner of Homeworks Carpet One Floor & Home “Our customers want beautiful, soft carpets but they don’t want to compromise performance. Tigressá Cherish has it all.”

Tigressá Cherish is the softest Tigressá yet thanks to ultra-fine fibers that are 20% of the thickness of an ordinary carpet fiber. These super soft fibers also have a unique shape that allows them to be bundled more densely in the carpet. This creates a carpet that is stronger and more resilient. Tigressá is also made from Type 6 nylon which means that is not only stain resistant, but it is also recyclable.

To introduce their customers to the softest Tigressá yet, Homeworks Carpet One Floor & Home is having a Sweet Dreams promotion through June 30 which offers customers up to 50% off Tigressá and Tigressá Cherish as well as up to 30% off select hard surface flooring. They are also offering extended financing to qualifying Tigressá customers.

The new Tigressá Cherish products are also covered by Homeworks Carpet One Floor & Home’s exclusive Beautiful Guarantee which promises that if customers are not 100% satisfied with the way their new floor looks, Carpet One Floor & Home will replace it for free.

“Our customers have been excited about the selection of stylish and soft carpets the new Tigressá Cherish has to offer,” says Hamstead “And they’re even more excited by the value during our Sweet Dreams promotion.”